Pathway 2: Children and Young People’s Social Care is for those working with children and young people in social care roles other than residential care. Job roles include: Social Care worker e.g. supporting a child or young person in their own home, at a contact centre or in a women’s refuge. Responsible for promoting a caring, healthy, stimulating, safe environment for children and young people.

Pathway 3: Residential Childcare is for those working with children and young people in residential settings. Job roles include: Residential Childcare Worker Working in settings such as residential care homes, residential special schools, therapeutic communities, secure children’s homes, shared care and short break settings. Responsible for promoting a caring, healthy, stimulating, safe, secure environment for children and young people in their care.

What will I learn?

You will study the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce which includes topics such as:

- Principles for Implementing Duty of Care
- Understand Child and Young Person Development
- Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People
- Understand How to Support Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People
- Assessment and Planning with Children and Young People
- Support Speech, Language and Communication Development
- Promote Positive Behaviour

How will I be assessed?

Suitable candidates may be expected to attend group sessions or be supported on a 1:1 basis and take part in work based assessments. Candidates will demonstrate proof of competence through their own work whilst on the programme. Methods of assessment used by the assessors are assignments, case studies, observations, witness testimonies, reflective accounts and some work products.

The candidate will be expected to produce a portfolio of evidence. Assessment and verification will be undertaken by the college. This will be carried out by qualified lecturers, assessors and internal verifiers.

Functional skills will require 2 exams for the English element (Reading and Writing), 1 exam for Maths element and 1 exam for the ICT element. However, proxies are accepted if you hold a GCSE or equivalent for any of the elements. This can be discussed at the interview stage.

As part of the apprenticeship framework, reviews are completed every 12 weeks by the assessor where progress is discussed by the apprentice, assessor and employer.

Career Opportunities

There is opportunity for apprentices to go on to further study at higher levels, particularly working towards:
- Foundation Degrees in Health & Social care or Therapeutic care,
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (England) (QCF)

Entry requirements

Apprentices on this pathway need to have experience in a related setting.

It is not a necessity to gain the Intermediate Apprenticeship for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or the L2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce in order to access the Advanced Apprenticeship.

It is possible that learners may come to this pathway without any prior qualifications; however, as the level of this pathway (L3) determines that the apprentice should be working at a level where they may either be working on their own or supervising others, the apprentice should have prior experience of the sector and be employed in a position whereby they would be able to demonstrate the competencies required at this level.

You must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week in the professional area that your Apprenticeship is in. Looking for Employment? See below for what to do next…

- Apply for this apprenticeship. We can then support you to find employment and prepare your job application.

- Register your details with the National Apprenticeship Matching Service (NAS) and search online for vacancies at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

- Check the College’s website page regularly (sometimes employers only want to recruit locally and so they advertise on our website and not the NAS website): www.kendal.ac.uk/apprenticeships/apprentice/

- Make sure your CV is up to date and is relevant to the job industry you are applying to.

- Contact local businesses and see if they have any vacancies available.